Darkest Equestria

Twilight poured over the books she had gathered, deep in thought. There was just so much to do and organize. Funds had to be procured, flyers had to be sent out, word had to be spread far and wide. Not to mention the state of the town. She needed working ponies here, repairing what could be saved.

She also had to find trainers. If she was to have a functioning force here, they had to be trained. Trained to survive, to fight. They also needed to be armed. She needed a blacksmith in the town. The abbey could be useful as well. It needed a pony to run it. A little hope never hurt any pony, even if it was rooted in a religion to her teacher. An awkward affair, but a useful one.

As a sigh left her, she turned another page in the book she was reading.

Hopefully the expedition went well, passage along the old road would be valuable. With the railways out of commission and the waterways plagued by whatever 'fish ponies' were, it was their best bet of procuring supplies.

There was also the matter of bits. Her funds from being the Princess's student would not last forever. They needed gold, and the only place she could think of getting that was the Castle of the Two Sisters. It was said to have treasures in its depths.

In her studies, Twilight had found that there was a network of tunnels below them. The old war reports spoke of trying to traverse them in large numbers. It had not ended well, but perhaps a smaller more elite team would do the trick. Now the issue was finding a way into those tunnels. Going into the castle directly without any information was a death sentence.

Twilight stood, shutting the book she was reading with a slam. She really hoped the expedition went well. If Pinkie was hurt...

There was no use thinking too far into it. Pinkie had wanted to do this, and who was she to deny a willing adventurer? Even if she was the only friend Twilight had made in the past ten years.

Besides, every pony would be needed. The letter Princess Celestia sent her said that this evil was still in its incubation stage, whatever that meant. Who knew what would happen if they took too long to destroy it? They had to act fast.

Alas, there was nothing she could do but wait. Twilight stretched; her late-night studying having locked her muscles. Then, she sat back down to keep working. There was much to be learned from the old reports. Tales of skeletal ponies, cultists, brigands, fish-ponies, malformed wildlife. If there was something to be found in these old texts, then Twilight would find it.

With that in mind, she settled in and set the quill to paper once more. For this town to flourish, her work would have no end. No matter how much her brain was telling her to sleep.

There was a certain event she wanted to investigate. An attack on the town by bandits. Apparently, a large portion of the town was burned down, and many ponies were killed. According to the town reports, the bandits used a large cannon. Such weaponry was rare, but perhaps further insight could determine how it could be beaten or used to their advantage.

Her work here was nothing compared to what Pinkie and the others had in store. She had to work harder, and faster. Lives depended on it. The whole of Equestria might depend on it. And so, she did what she always did in rough times.

She got back to work.

Pinkie stumbled into town. Behind her, Trixie meandered in much the same way, swaying back and forth with each step. Baldwin, as always, seemed unphased.

"What should we say to Twilight?" Pinkie could barely think.

"Trixie will rest before doing anything else. She has earned it." Trixie had a far-off stare. "She... needs time alone."

Trixie wandered off into the town in the direction of the tavern. It would probably be best not to pursue her.

As it was getting late, Pinkie decided that she would get some rest first as well. The news could wait, as terrible as it was. She turned to Baldwin.

He raised a hoof, silencing her. "Worry not, I will find my own shelter. Do you need aid?"

Pinkie focused on the wound on her back. It wasn't that bad, but it would probably need stitches again. The thought of visiting the hospital right now was grating. "I'll be fine. Thanks for worrying about me."

Baldwin looked her over, his gaze wandered to her back. "Beware the untreated wound, lest it fester."

"I know." Pinkie forced a smile. "I'll take care of it."

Baldwin nodded. "Then be safe. We will speak more about what has occurred in the morrow."

He walked off towards the tavern. The blood and mud he tracked was bound to give a pony a scare. At the moment, Pinkie found it hard to care. All she wanted to do was lay down and sleep. So, she set her route for Sugarcube Corner and started to walk.

She made it there without encountering another pony and fumbled with the key to unlock her door. After a few shaky tries it opened, and she practically fell through it. Stumbling, she made her way to her bedroom. Ever since the upstairs had collapsed, she had taken to using her secret party room downstairs.

Pinkie took a slide down, leaving a streak of blood behind her as she did so. That would have to be cleaned later.

Without really processing anything, Pinkie crawled into her bed, leaving her wound open to the air. She closed her eyes and even through the pain, sleep found her quickly.

That night, she dreamed of flashing steel, blood, and the screams of Spearhead. He begged for aid, but no one saved him. In her flashing dreams, Pinkie always tried to run to his aid but was always one step too far away. And amongst those tortured dreams, she saw a half-crown of iron and felt the presence of something lurking close to her.

She saw herself letting that bandit go, fully knowing that his death would find him quickly. She had used him. Was that really her? Was she really that heartless?

When she awoke again, it was with a start and a gasp of breath. Pinkie groaned, her head aching. There was something knocking upstairs.

"Pinkie?" Twilight's voice came through the murk of Pinkie's mind. "You left the door open, so I invited myself in. I hope you don't mind."

"I'm down here." Pinkie rasped. She couldn't help but be glad Twilight had shown up. She felt terrible. In more ways than one.

Twilight came down the slide, a worried look on her face at the sight of the blood. "What happened to you? Where is the rest of the group?"

Pinkie sighed and buried her face back in her pillows. Old and tattered, the threads dug into her coat like a net. "It didn't go so well."

"Did they..." Twilight trailed off.

"They survived. All except Spearhead." Pinkie said.

Twilight was silent. The frown on her face was deep. "What happened?"

Pinkie Pie told her what happened. Down to every last detail she could think of. There was much to go over, and by the time she was done, Pinkie felt like sleeping again.

"That does not bode well. I... I can't believe a pony died already." Twilight sat down, shaking her head. "I knew it could happen, but I always thought that maybe under my watch we would be the exceptions. I have to do better."

Pinkie closed her eyes. She was still tired, and every second was drawing on her mind.

"We need to get you back to the hospital." Twilight's face grew hard. "I'm not letting another pony die on my watch."

"Don't want to." Pinkie mumbled through the pillow.

"Don't be stubborn. As the new owner of this town, it is my duty to make sure you are healthy." Twilight pulled away the pillow.

"I don't want Redheart to see me." Pinkie didn't want to let her see she had already been wounded again. She could already imagine the look of disappointment on her face. "I promised not to get hurt again."

"She will just have to accept this as the new norm. As will I." Twilight sighed. "She won't hurt you; a Nurse is bound to help ponies."

If only Twilight knew what Nurse Redheart had done. What she had been forced to do. Pinkie could remember the screams of ponies as they were locked away in the deepest parts of the hospital, her with them. Most never saw the light again, their madness too thick to be pierced through. Pinkie considered herself lucky that she had been able to recover from it. But that didn't mean that the hospital didn't still terrify her.

"I'll be there with you, if you want me to." Twilight tugged at her coat with a hoof. “But you have to get those wounds treated.”

"...Okay." Pinkie forced her hooves underneath her and stood. There really was no avoiding it, was there? "I'll do it."

"That's the spirit." Twilight said.

Pinkie stood on shaky hooves and followed Twilight back up the slide. She really needed to consider getting a regular staircase put in. Her party planning days had little use in this town as of late.

They walked back outside to brisk air. Outside of the forest, all was colder, the thrumming blood of evil not warming its depths. Or at least, that is what Pinkie imagined it was.

"I know this might be strange to ask at a moment like this, but did you find anything about Trixie's magic?" Twilight asked.

"Not much." Pinkie sighed. "It seems... connected to the evil here. It's not right."

"She is evil then?" Twilight asked.

"I'm not sure. She seems nice enough, but the magic she is using isn't normal." Pinkie said.

"Interesting." Twilight hummed in thought. "And that skull of hers, is it connected?"

"It seems to be." Pinkie focused on keeping her hooves moving.

"And what of Baldwin?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie paused, not sure what to tell Twilight. Baldwin had not specifically said not to tell others that he was a king, but then again, he had trusted her with the knowledge. "I don't know."

"Sorry for asking so much of you. I just don't want this to happen again." Twilight said. "Maybe if I know who I am sending out there better, I can better plan for what you will face. There are just still so many unknowns that need to be looked into."

"It's alright Twilight. I'm just... tired." Pinkie said.

The two walked in silence the rest of the way. Pinkie was lost in her thoughts, trying to make sense of everything.

When the doors of the hospital came into view, Pinkie couldn't stop herself from faltering. She could already see the look on Nurse Redheart's face. Unyielding, disappointed, and perhaps considering a session of... encouragement for one's safety. Nonetheless, Pinkie let Twilight open the door for her and stumbled inside.

Redheart was waiting at the desk, as if expecting her to arrive. Immediately her single eye locked onto Pinkie. "Wounded, Pinkie?"

Pinkie gave her a sheepish smile and nodded.

"Perhaps some time in the patient cells will make you think twice about mindlessly fighting bandits." Redheart's eye narrowed.

"Unfortunately, nurse Redheart, there will be more of that to come." Twilight spoke up. "I am orchestrating a war against the forest, and Pinkie Pie is at the head of it."

Redheart set down a quill she had been holding. "Is that so?"

There was an awkward silence between the three.

"I was hoping that you would treat Pinkie's wounds." Twilight said.

"That is the work of a nurse." Redheart said. "Come along then, I will make this quick."

Pinkie let the tension in her shoulders release. The thought of getting put back in one of those cells was too much even for her. She didn't know if she could survive that again.

"What is a patient cell?" Twilight whispered as they followed the nurse.

"It's... where they put the crazy ponies." Pinkie shuddered. "At least the ones who are dangerous to others."

"Interesting. I have never heard of such a technique used anywhere else in Equestria." Twilight had a troubled look on her face.

"Nowhere else has what we have here." Pinkie giggled; a flash of Spearhead's body being dragged away burning into her mind. "It's enough to drive a pony mad."

After that, Pinkie had her new wound stitched up by Redheart. If she was irritated with her, she did not show it. Her face was like a stone, her single eye a spotlight. In a short time, Pinkie found herself walking back out the door with freshly sealed wounds and a tonic of something to apply to them.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Twilight asked.

"It wasn't." Pinkie said. She felt a little better now that the blood had been cleaned off her body. Fresher, as if absolved of her sins.

"I am going to go look for the other adventurers. Do you need help getting home?" Twilight asked.

"I'll come with you." Pinkie didn't want to be alone with her thoughts right now.

"I'm not sure that is the best idea, you need rest." Twilight said.

"I'll be fine, a bit of cheer at the tavern will do me good!" Pinkie said. "Laughter is the best medicine after all!"

"I'm not sure Nurse Redheart would agree, or any accredited medical textbook." Twilight frowned.

"Just let me come alone, silly! I know my body better than anypony else." Pinkie said. "Besides, I can help speak with them."

Twilight bit her lip in thought, then relinquished. "Okay. But don't move too fast. Your wounds could rip open. And then you would have to visit Nurse Redheart again."

"You Betcha! My legs are now like wooden rods! Not moving at all, see?" Pinkie walked statically, barely bending her legs.

"Even now you're joking around." Twilight shook her head with a light smile. "Are you sure you're okay?

"Pfft. Of course, I'm still me!" Pinkie waved a hoof. "Now let's get going to the tavern. I could use a little drink!"

Twilight gave her a searching look. "Fine. Let's go then."

They walked to the tavern. It was at the end of the three nights, but even then, there was still light coming from inside. Ponies were within. It seemed even now; the rush of life would never end. She let Twilight open the door for her.

The sounds of the tavern met her ears, the rolling of dice, the clattering of tankards. It was a hum of noise that was pleasant to the ears.

"Pinks!" A voice called out.

A cheer rang out in the tavern at her arrival. Pinkie smiled lightly, ready to reach for her lute and kick up a song. That always made her feel better.

"No! None of that today! Pinkie Pie is wounded." Twilight shouted. "No dancing, and no games!"

A few ponies in the tavern complained.

"Sorry every pony, she's right. I can't let this wound open up again." Pinkie Pie said. While she wanted to play a song, she wanted her stitches to remain sealed even more.

There was a general murmur of disappointment, but no ponies pressured her. For that, Pinkie was grateful. At least some of them cared for her more than just her lute and dance.

"So, what now?" Pinkie asked.

"Now we find where the other adventurers are." Twilight scanned the room. "And I think I found them."

Trixie and Baldwin were sitting in a shadowed corner of the bar. At the table were two tankards and plates full of corn and hay. Neither one of them was eating. Trixie was looking at her prized skull, and Baldwin was regarding his food like it was some kind of enigma. Now that Pinkie was thinking about it, she didn't see him eat earlier on the expedition.

"Mind if I join?" Pinkie asked as she approached.

"Trixie does not care." Trixie grabbed her tankard and took a long drink, then raised an eye at Twilight. "Are you here to pay Trixie for her glorious deeds?"

"That money will be doled out at the end of the week." Twilight sat down at the table. "Now, I have things that I wish to discuss about your expedition."

Baldwin withdrew the map and placed it on the table.

Twilight greedily took it, eyes devouring the new marks placed there. "This is excellent! You wouldn't happen to be a cartographer, would you?"

"Many things can be learned from a life of quiet contemplation." Baldwin said.

Twilight set the paper down. "This is great news, and a job well done, but it isn't the only thing I came here to discuss."

"Oh?" Trixie asked. "And what would you ask of the great and powerful Trixie?"

"Honesty." Twilight's gaze fell down. "I... made a mistake by not questioning you more before you left. If this is to work out, I need to know the strengths and weaknesses of the ponies under my charge. We cannot suffer needless casualties. If there is anything that can be done to help your survival, I will do it."

"So, you wish for Trixie's secrets?"

"Yes. And Baldwin as well. Tell me about yourselves." Twilight said.

Trixie turned her head away, cradling her prized skull. "Trixie will do no such thing."

"I already know that skull you use is connected to what dwells here." Twilight said. "There is no use in hiding it any longer."

Trixie didn't look over, keeping her head turned away defiantly.

"Come on Trixie! You saw how we crushed those Timberwolves when we worked together." Pinkie Pie leaned forward, an encouraging grin on her face. "You are among ponies who won't judge you."

"And how can Trixie trust you not to burn her at the stake?" Trixie's eyes darted between them.

"Burn you at the stake? Why in Equestria would you think I would do that?" Twilight looked horrified.

"It has nearly happened before, when Trixie returned with these powers." Trixie cradled her skull tighter, her gaze downcast. "Trixie will not let it happen again."

Twilight looked between the two adventurers. "Then how about you, Baldwin? Is there anything you want to share?"

Baldwin looked towards Pinkie. She slid a hoof across her mouth as if she was zipping it, letting him know she kept quiet about his past.

After a long moment, he spoke.

"I was a king once." Baldwin said. "Before sickness and war made my land their home."

"A king?" Twilight asked. She looked him over, and suddenly there was a gleam in her eye. "Wait, are you… the former king of Saddle Arabia? King Baldwin?"

"Indeed." Baldwin said.

"What?" Trixie leapt to her hooves. "Trixie traveled with you all this time and you did not tell her?!"

Ponies in the tavern glanced over. Trixie cleared her throat and waved a hoof, sitting back down at the table. Eventually, the conversation around them returned.

"Why did you not tell Trixie? She was a great show mare in your kingdom once, and she asked for your audience many times!" Trixie hissed. "And was denied, many times!"

"The art of the written word was always more to my liking. I thought you best to spread joy amongst the populace, rather than in my castle." Baldwin said.

"Well, all the good the populace did when my wagon was blown up! There is nothing left of my dear wagon but a pile of splinters. And now Trixie..." Trixie buried her face in her hooves.

"Is in crippling debt?" Pinkie Pie guessed.

"Yes!" Trixie stammered. "Wait- I mean, Trixie is not in any debt whatsoever. And also, she still has her wagon."

From the silence that went across the table, Pinkie Pie knew that no pony was buying it. She kind of felt bad for Trixie, considering her flushed and embarrassed face.

"Well." Twilight cleared her throat. "That is all very interesting information. However, I wish to know about your abilities as well. Your weaknesses, what makes you tick. If we are to keep this operation going, then we must know what tools we have at our disposal, and what tools are needed."

"Trixie will not submit to your mental evaluation."

"Then can you at least tell me what you can do?" Twilight asked.

"No."

Twilight groaned, her head falling onto the flat of the table. "This is impossible."

"I will tell you what I can do." Baldwin spoke up. "If the blade on my back is not proof enough."

"Thank you!" Twilight said.

Pinkie waited in anticipation. From what she had seen, Baldwin must have had some kind of mystical Saddle Arabian magic. There was simply no other way he was swinging around a blade that large with little effort. Everypony paused, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Baldwin was in no rush to explain. He looked towards the ceiling, and Pinkie followed his gaze only to see there was nothing there. Other than a single, particularly fat fly. Pinkie watched it, wondering what unfathomable wisdom he could possibly be drawing from it. It moved erratically. Was it drawing the letter A? Perhaps B? What was it trying to communicate through the veil of nature and pony?

"My blade is a scythe, and they are the wheat." Baldwin said.

"So, you hit things?" Twilight asked.

"Indeed."

Pinkie could have guessed that. She had seen enough of it. "Are you sure you don't have any strange magic?"

"No. Merely muscle." Baldwin said.

Twilight sighed. "Thank you for being honest. Now, Trixie. Is there anything you want to share?"

Trixie looked thoughtful. "Yes."

"What is it?" Twilight's eyes lit up.

"Trixie is great and powerful. She is a great asset to the team." Trixie said.

"Is that it?" Pinkie asked. "What about those tentacles you summoned? How are we supposed to know we can trust you?"

"So, you do not trust Trixie."

"You don't trust us." Pinkie Pie leaned forward, wondering if what she was about to say was the right thing. "You saw what we could do when we trusted each other. And you saw what happened when we didn't. I'm willing to trust you Trixie, even with your powers. Because you are a good pony, you didn't run when things got rough."

That was more than others did in town. Even her friends. They all left, leaving Pinkie to defend what was here alone.

Trixie sighed and looked between them. "Fine! Trixie will tell you about her amazing powers. Nothing more than what is necessary!"

They all listened, waiting for her to speak.

"Ponies think that it is dark magic, but it is not. Trixie merely harnessed the magic that was there with the help of the thing that created it. So, it is not her magic but something else." Trixie tapped a hoof on the top of her prized skull. "This is her conduit, the source of her magic."

"What does it do?" Twilight leaned forward, eyes sparkling as she looked at the skull. "Can it be replicated?"

"No touching!" Trixie moved the skull back. "Trixie was able to contact this being through a long and complex ritual. One that cannot even be hoped to be understood."

"And who did you contact?" Twilight asked. "I have never heard of such a being."

"Trixie does not know who she contacted. Only that it offered her power."

Pinkie Pie narrowed her eyes. That mysterious entity did not sound good. It reminded her too much of the feeling she got when looking out over the Castle of the Two Sisters.

"So, this entity granted you power?" Twilight said. "And you don't know what it is? Isn't that dangerous?"

Trixie paused, fumbling for words. She stopped, collected herself, then spoke coherently. "Trixie knows what she is doing. She has extensive knowledge on matters of dark magic."

"I thought you said it wasn't dark magic?" Pinkie Pie said. If there was anything she hated, it was bandits, and next to that, it was whatever plagued the forest. And if dark magic sounded like anything, it was what was corrupting the forest around here. Her home. Her friends. Her town.

"That does not feel like dark magic." Twilight said. "Princess Celestia showed me personally what dark magic looked like. I would know it if I saw it."

"Then what is it?" Pinkie asked.

Trixie puffed up defensively. Then she sighed, deflating. "Trixie will admit, she does not know where exactly it comes from. All she knows is that it grants her power."

Something remained unsaid. Trixie’s face was too rigid and calculated. Something was being left out. But what that was, Pinkie had a feeling they were not going to learn today. She didint push.

"Would you be interested in finding out where exactly this power comes from?" Twilight asked. "If you want, we can set up experiments together."

Trixie crossed her hooves. "Trixie would not be opposed to having an assistant help her with discovering more of this power."

"Then that settles it!" Twilight said. "We can understand your power and..."

Pinkie suddenly felt Twilight's eyes boring into her. "What?"

"And your power." Twilight said.

"I don't have any power." Pinkie waved a hoof. "All I can do is swing a scythe and crack a few jokes!"

Twilight hummed thoughtfully. "Then how do you explain how you knew those birds were going to fall from the sky?"

"Birds? Trixie can explain that!" Trixie said. "She eradicated the pesky vermin."

"Thank you or the input, but that's not what I was asking." Twilight said. "Pinkie, I think you have a special sense for this. Strange new abilities have been appearing ever since Princess Celestia disappeared. There is much more to discover, and I think that you have one of these strange powers."

"Are you talking about my pinkie sense?" Pinkie asked. "Oh, that's not new, silly! I have had that since I was a filly!"

"You have?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah! Ever since..." Pinkie paused, trying to think back to when she could first sense random things. For some reason, nothing came up. It was so long ago she couldn't pinpoint exactly when it was. Then she remembered. "Oh, I remember now! It was the day I threw my first party. The day of the sonic rainboom!"

"The sonic rainboom?" Twilight wondered. "I think I remember that. It was a nova of energy that helped me through my entrance exam to Princess Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. That was ages ago."

"Trixie does not understand this event. Speak less of it." Trixie said.

Pinkie Pie went to say a joke but yawned. Her eyes drooped, the exhaustion of the day catching up to her again.

"The day grows long." Baldwin said.

"Trixie is tired as well."

"We should continue this conversation later then." Twilight said. "I learned a lot, thank you for placing your trust in me."

Trixie turned away but nodded hesitantly. Baldwin just nodded, unphased in every aspect.

"Now that the road is marked, we can spread this information. Hopefully that will attract more adventurers and make getting supplies here easier." Twilight said. "You have all done well, and... it is unfortunate that Spearhead's fate unveiled the way it did. I will ensure that such losses will be minimal in the future."

Baldwin nodded. "The first victory is in recognizing a defeat."

At the mention of Spearhead, Trixie's face grew troubled. She looked guilty, but the expression faded before Pinkie could even be sure she saw it.

"Thank you." Twilight said. "Rest now, all of you, I will update you all when I receive further news."

Pinkie watched as the others got up from the table. She wanted to stay longer and play a song, but her body was telling her to go home and sleep. So, that's what she did. Twilight walked her home, and they said nothing on the way. There was much more to discuss, but Pinkie knew she wouldn't be able to properly pay attention.

Hopefully more adventurers will arrive soon. They needed all the hooves they could get for the tasks ahead.

Pinkie slept easier that night. In good company and drink, she could almost forget Spearhead's tortured screams as he was pulled into the darkness...

She couldn't let it get to her. There was more work to do.

There would be more bloodshed yet, before this was all over. That was a certainty.